Control apparatus for check dispensers



June 8, 1937. s. MAY 2,083,463

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CHECK D1SPEN SERS Filed June l2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8, 1937.

s. MAY 2,083,463

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CHECK DISPENSERS Filed June 121935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1.937

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CHECK DISPENSE-Rs Sam May, Chicago, Ill.,

assignor to Raymond T.

Moloney, Chicago, Ill.`

Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 26,215

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved dispenser and itsl control means for use with games, for example, of the pin ball type. More particularly, the balls, or playing pieces serve to close switches and circuits to control operation of an electrical device and a dispenser cooperable with a magazine, whereby to dispense checks, or the like.

These pin ball games, with which the present dispenser is especially useful, embody a play board sloped slightly from the horizontal, which board is formed with holes to trap balls rolled over the top surface of the board. Skill in the playing of the game is developed by practice and Irepeated playing thereof, and to encourage the maximum play, since the games are coin or check released, it is desirable automatically to pay out an award commensurate with the skill displayed in scoring the balls. Thus, the several ball trapping holes have different score val- 20 ues and balls entering the same cause the pay off to be varied in accordance with the skill required to roll balls into the several holes.

In the present case the pay-off unit embodies an upright check magazine at the lower end of which is a reciprocatory dispenser member which includes a pocket to take the checks from the magazinev and deliver same to a dispensing position. The operator for said member preferably comprises an electro-magnetdisposed in circuits which are normally open but individually closable by balls played into the scoring holes. These circuits include normally open switches arranged in a novel manner in a ball receiving and routing track which track is inclined and carries the switches at different levels whereby a ball entering the top of the track structure will successively roll over and close each switch in turn. By causing the balls from the several holes to enter this control track at different levels it is possible to regulate in a predetermined manner the number of pay off operations to be elTected.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simplified pay off control mechanism for dispensers operatively associated with pin ball games, or the like.

Another object is to provide such a control means which can be cheaply produced and which is not likely to get out of order in use and operation.

Still another object is to provide a control track structure which is inclined to permit gravitation of balls theredown over switches arranged therealong to regulate operation of an electrically operated dispenser means.

It is also an object to arrange such control track in the form of a spiral and to associate therewith means to permit entry thereinto of balls from the score holes at different levels where- 60 by to predetermine the number of switches that may be closed by a ball rolling through the spiral control track.

Other important objects will be apparent to those versed in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

In the specic embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, a pinball game of standard formk is shown, and beneath its play board is arranged a spirally formed tube comprising an inclined track down which balls receivedthereby may roll by gravitation to discharge from the lower end thereof. Leading from the game board holes are tubes to lead the trappedballs into the spiral control track at different levels so that some balls may gravitate and roll the whole length of the spiral, while others roll only over a portion thereof. Arranged at spaced intervals within the spiral tube are normally open switches adapted to be momentarily closed by the weight of a ball rolling thereover to establish circuits to the electro-magnet for operating the same and its operatively associated dispenser. So much will suice in giving a general idea of the Yimproved dispenser control means.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein is illustrated a practicable example of the invention:A

Figure 1 is a general plan View of a pin ball game showing the improved dispenserv and control unit operatively associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a side view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows; the control unit, however, being illustrated in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a side, fragmentary sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a check dispenser unit and the motor or operator therefor;

Figure 5 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 4 with parts broken away to facilitate illustration Figure 6 is a central, longitudinal, sectional view through a section of the spiral control track structure, illustrating one of the ball closed electric switches;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View through one of these switches taken along the line '1 -'l of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the spiral control track and the electrical circuits associated therewith.

The pin ball game illustrated may be of the usual form embodying a cabinet I0, having a floor II, a front wall I2, and an open top closed by a glass panel i3. Below the panel I3, the 'cabn inet carries a play board I4, sloped slightly from the horizontal, with its low end adjacent the front Wall I2. A marginal plate on the board board I4 provides a ball projection passage I8 Cil ` 'the shooter I9 can engage the balls to project rele along one side of the board, there being amanually operable, spring pressed; ball shooting plunger I9 carried in the front wall I2, and` op erable in the lower end of said passagel, inthe usual way, to project ballstowardthe high end of the field I6. Such balls will rebound from a bumper spring and then lose their momentum to gravitate down the sloped Vboard 4 to be` trapped by any one of a number ofy holes 2| formed in and through the board^|4 as shown in Figure 1.

22 forapu'rpose laterto appear.

Disposed under the panel or board I4, in any. suitablellocation onthe floor I I', by means of brackets' 23 is a spirally woundtube 24 having a number of convolutionsarranged vertically, with the upper endjof saidtube opening vunder and in registration with `vthe central hole 2| in the board I4 to receive balls dropping the-rethrough.H The lower end Iof vthe tube 24 is ex tended forwardly at*25,tsl free end being .closed by a 'flap gate 26 carriedat one end ofv a transverse rock shaft `2'I suitably journaled inthe cabinet., This shaft carriesfast Vthereon a lever 28 which has a portion extending below the shaft and 'pulled by 'a spring 25| for resiliently holding the gate 26 in position to close the end of the tube extension 25.` i

This lever 28 valso hasv an upward extension lying in the-path oi movement of the usual coin t t d slider3|ly carried inthe front wall I2 as shown in Figure 3.' -Wh'en fthe playercoin releases said slide 30 and pushesit into the cabinet, the inner end-thereof: hits thelever 28 Vto rock it andthe shaft 21` to move thegate 2 6 away Afrom the end of the tubel extension V25, whereby to release the balls therefrom. I f. Such released balls then gravitate into a transverse'trough 3|, which is inclined?. toward the right ,handV wall ofthe cabinet to move balls therein by gravitationinto an arcuate groove 32 formed insaid wall as yshown in Figure 2. A ball elevator orVv lifter 33 of standardformA ispivoted tofthe adjacent side wall of the cabinet; said lifterhaving a portion movable across the discharge end of the trou'gh'3I vand in the groove 532 'to raise the balls from said trough intov the passage I8 and against an abutment 3 4, Where Ithe same onto thetboard I4 and play field I6.

This lifter 33 isoperated in the conventional mannerby a plunger 35 mounted in the front lwall. I2. f l

Under each of the remaining holesl 2| `is` a branch pipe 36, each of said branches serving to deliver'the balls into the main spiral 24,at ,a different level as shown in Figure 8, whereit will be seen thatthe main pipe 24 is made-of an 'electric `conductormaterial^for a purpose soon toappear. Balls missing theh'oles 2| gravitate to the lower end of the board I4 tol be received bythe'spent ball opening 22;.which communicates l with a pipe'31 thatleadssuch spent balls into the extension 25 as shown in Figure 2.` 'l indicated diagrammatically in Figure 8 and k shoigvnin detail in Figure 6, the main control unit'24, just below whereeach branch 36 enters thev same, carries a ball operated contact switch `each embodying a. plunger 38 resting on a spring leaf conductor 39 secured in any suitable man- `ner'as bymeans 48 to the pipe 24.'` Each plunger At the lower `end lof the field I Iigthe` board I4 has formed therein a. spent ball hole' 38 has a head 4| normallyspaced from a couritersunk portion 42 formed `in the pipe. An insulator collar 43 carries each plunger as shown The pipe 24 is electrically: connected by a wire..

44 with any suitable source of energy, such for exarnple, asa battery 45,'said battery being locludes a wire 44' from which, in the present embodiment, is led six wires 41 respectively leading to six clips 39 for the six switches 38 located in the control pipe 24 ashasf been described.`

' on the floor II of the cabinet. This magnet iny Y 4The magnet 4,6 has noperatively -associatedf Atherewith a hingedlys'rnounted armature lever 481 pivotally connected-at .49 to 'a link 58, saidlink in turn being pivoted! at 5I`-ljintermediate the ends of'a dispenser member 52,` which in turn is horizontally mounted by a'lpivot 53 on the :iioor of the cabinet Ill.- A 'spring 54 serves to'pull these connected partslto' the'jnormal position showr'rinFigure 4. l i l f The free end of the dispenser lever member 52 is enlarged to forma headportion 55 provided vwith a check receiving 'opening 56. This headrv 55 reciproca-tes to and frounder a horizontal guide strip 5l secured at 58` to the floor II, said strip carrying an upright check or'coin containfull, said swept 01T coins or checks being kicked onto a chute, not shown",l for. delivery into a check boxfnot shown,vinf a mannen common in this art. TheY head 55, when it is located to register its opening 56` under the magazine,` receives one or f more checks, depending upon the thickness of,

the portion 55 relative to the thickness of the t checks, by gravitation and then moves the check lor checks in said opening 56'to` a point over a discharge opening 6| formed-in the floor `I I. Ob-

lvious'ly'the check, or checks; will now discharge ingmagazine 59.` This'magazine is located under by gravity through saidr opening 6|,land into a chute 62 for delivery to a slot in thevfront wall I2 of the machine, where the player has `ready access to hisskill award.V The use and operation of theimproved game :structure will now be described. i

In starting the game playthe balls available for play will all bestored in the-.pipe extension 25 and be held there by the spring pressed valve or gate 26. The firststep is to checker coin operate the slide 36 which is pushed into the cabinet-so that its inner end abuts the lever 28 .to rock the shaft 2'I against thepull of thelspring 29 toopen the gate .26 and'permit the balls` all to gravitate into the trough 3|. When the slide 30 is retracted the gate 26 once more moves to 4 closed position under the pull of the spring ,29. Each ball in turn is now'available for elevation up the groove 32 by means ofthe lifterv 33 to lodge in thepassage IBx-against the abutment 34 Afor projection by thesliootergIQ,4

Each ball is thus projected onto the upper-.zend

Tof 'the play field |6,the object, of course, being to 4lodge the balls inzthe kscore holes: 2| arranged in scattered relation through 'theboard I4.` A

ball dropping through the central Ahole 2I `ob.-` viously enters the upper end of the-control, tube the dispenser lever 52 to dispense a check on each l stroke thereof from under the magazine 59 toward the opening 6I The balls close the respective contacts only for an instant and the instant the ball passes off the contacts they open under the spring pressure of the clips 39 to break the4 respective circuits. Also, the instant the magnet is deenergized the spring 54 is operative to pull the dispenser lever 52 forwardly to its check loading position as will be obvious.

A ball entering the other holes 2| is carried by the respective branches 36 to lower points on the spiral tubing so that such balls can engage fewer contacts 38. The lower down the balls enter said control tube the fewer contacts are closed. By this means the pay offs can be proportioned directly to the skill required in pocketing the balls. Finally,l when all balls available have been played they lodge against the closed gate 26 in the manner already described.

Obviously in practice the control track need not be in the form of closed tubing, and it may be formed otherwise than in' spiral form without departing from the substance of my invention. Also a ticket or other dispenser may be substituted for the check dispenser herein shown, for it should be perfectly apparent that the electromagnetic device 46 will serve as an operator for these other forms of dispensers.

It is the intention herein to cover all such changes and modifications of the illustrative form shown and described which do not in material respects constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control apparatus for check dispensers having an electric motor and means operated thereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track wound around a substantially vertical axis and constructed to receive a ball at its upper end and to permit the ball to roll therethrough and be discharged from its lower end, and normally open switches in the track andk connected in circuits for the operation of the motor, said switches being arranged in spaced relation along the length of the track and being closable to complete the circuits as the ball rolling along the track passes over the switches.

2. In a control apparatus for check dispensers having an electric motor and means operated Vthereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track in the form of a closed tube wound around a substantially vertical axis and constructed to receive a ball at its upper end and to permit the ball to roll through the tube and be discharged from its lower yend, said lower end being open, and nor# mally open switches arranged in the tube and connected in circuits for the operation of thel motor, said switches being arranged in spaced relation along the length of the tube and being closable to complete the circuits successively as the ball rolls along the tube and passes over the switches.

3. In a control apparatus for check dispensers having an electric motor and means operated thereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track wound around a substantially vertical axis and constructed to receive a ball at its upper end and to permit the ball to roll along the track and to be discharged therefrom at its lower end, a plurality of radiating branch tracks'constructed also to receive balls with ends of said branch tracks connected respectively to communicate with the spiral track and at different levels to guide balls from the branches into the spiral track,`v and normally open circuit closers included in circuits for the operation of the motor and located in the .spiral track to be closed by a ball in the spiral track rolling thereover.

4. In a control apparatus for check dispensers having an electric motor and means operated thereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track wound around a substantially vertical axis and con-Y structed to receive a ball at its upper end and to permit the ball to roll along the track and to be discharged therefrom at its lower end, a plurality of radiating branch tracks having open ends `alsoto receive balls with the other ends of said branch tracks connected respectively to communicate with the spiral track and at different levels to guide balls from the branches into the spiral track, and normally open circuit closers included in circuits for the operation of the motor and arranged in spaced relationship along the length of `the spiral track and respectively at points below the confluence of the branch tracks with the spiral track, said circuit closers being closable by balls rolling thereover. f

5. In a control apparatus for check dispensers 'having an electric motor and means operated thereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track in the form of a closed tube Wound around a substantially vertical axis and constructed to receive a' ball at its upper end to permit the ball to roll through the tube and to be discharged from its lower end, a plurality of radiating branch tracks also in the form of closed tubes, said. branch tubes respectively constructed at one end also to receive balls and having their other ends respectively connected to and communicating with the spiral track at dilferent levels to guide balls from the branches into the spiral track, and normally .open circuit closers included in circuits for the operation of the motor and arranged in spaced relationship along the length of the spiral tube and respectively at points below the confluence of the branch tubes with the spiral tube, said circuit closers being closable by balls rolling thereover.

Y 6. In a control apparatus for check dispensers having an electric motor andV means operated thereby to dispense checks from a magazine, said apparatus comprising a spiral track having a ver- Y tical axis and having radiating branches communicating with said track at different levels,

said rst track and the spiral tracks being respectively constructed to receive balls to permit SAM MAY. 

